
Debut album on A&M released 1987
Black’s breakthrough album rode to the number three spot on the back of ‘Wonderful Life’ and ‘Sweetest Smile’, both UK top ten hits. Record Mirror would later describe Black’s first hit Sweetest Smile as “a beautiful, slow croon. Sufficiently different from the usual conveyor-belt of identikit hits to distract the listener and stretch their attention span to four minutes.”
The album ‘Wonderful life’ went on to sell two million copies worldwide. Although ‘Wonderful life’ and ‘Sweetest smile’ are both melancholy ballads, it is European hit ‘Everything’s coming up roses’ that better defines much of the rest of the album of upbeat, electric guitar and synth-driven rock.
Reviewers would later come to consider the sound of the album dated, but the strength of the underlying songs has ensured a successful acoustic revival on Colin’s later albums. ‘Wonderful life’ is still widely available on CD, featuring five tracks not released on the vinyl edition.
“I have little but good memories of this pre-success period,” says Colin today. “Hand me the number of Dial-a-Fudge – I wish to send an order to whoever it was that said that the trick to life is keeping it simple!”
CV
CD available from Amazon UK
Download from Apple Music
There is also a 2-disc re-issue available with a second CD of 14 bonus tracks. These include the original Ugly Man version of the Wonderful Life single plus a selection of B-sides and four songs from a 1986 Janice Long session. The album’s liner notes come complete with a specially commissioned interview with Colin.
2-CD available from Amazon UK
Download 2-CD version from Apple Music
Lyrics
Wonderful Life
Here I go out to sea again
The sunshine fills my hair
And dreams hang in the air
Gulls in the sky and in my blue eyes
You know it feels unfair
There’s magic everywhere
Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
The sun’s in your eyes
The heat is in your hair
They seem to hate you
Because you’re there
And I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy
Not stand there on my own
Look at me standing here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy, not so alone
Look at me here, here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine
No need to run and hide
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh or cry
It’s a wonderful, wonderful life
Everything’s Coming Up Roses
You don’t believe me, I can tell it by your eyes
There’s a kind of magic, to be had from your lies
I used to say that today
Is like tomorrow
Don’t sell it short for truth
I should have known should have known should have known how
I should have known I should have known by now
You don’t understand it, I can tell it by your smile
There’s a kind of freedom, to be had from your lies
I always said that today
Is like tomorrow
Don’t sell it short for truth
I should have known should have known should have known now
I should have known I should have known by now
But everything’s coming up roses, coming up roses, coming up roses
But now everything’s coming up roses, coming up roses
Sometimes For The Asking
Sometimes you laugh
Sometimes we smile at each other
Sometimes you give a lot
when really you’d rather not
And sometimes you pray
Sometimes you tell a lie
Sometimes you take a hold
of this your living day
So many dreams for the asking
And I’ll wager there’s one here who’ll try
to make a fool of you
You’re crying out for more
More more more more
So many dreams for the asking
And I’ll wager there’s one here who’ll try
to make a man of you
You’re crying out for more
More more more more
I’ll Give You Something to Cry About
Breaks her vows and keeps the ring
Buys a car and steals a gun and tries to run
Stares ahead and drives the night and when she’s run the county line she looks behind
With angry eyes
Your bloodless hands, your stupid friends, your vicious lies
I’ll give you something to cry about
I am more than pussy face
I am more than pretty thighs wrapped up in lace
And I want more than broken dreams
I was always more than I seemed and
I’ll give you something to cry about
I want a child I want to play
Like children do
I want much more than I could
Ever have with you
I’ll give you something to cry about
Breaks her vows and keeps the ring
Buys a car and steals a gun and tries to run
Finder
Baby, once more I won’t ask again
Don’t tell me I should count to ten
Think freely, I won’t attempt to curb your speech
It sounds like something out of reach
It’s crazy, when I think of how I feel so free
Maybe there is something wrong with me
Could be!
Finder, I never seem to know when I will find her
I am the
Finder, and that’s fine by me
That’s fine by me
Bingo! You’ve said it, you “don’t care to play”
Just srag on through another day
Maybe it’s time you learnt to play the fool
Break some of your silly rules
And someday, when you think you can’t do anymore
I’ll be lying here to break your fall
So small
Finder, I never seem to know when I will find her
I am the
Finder, and that’s fine by me
That’s fine by me
Paradise
I feel the weight of your heart
And I know a way it can change
I know the weight of your heart
I know a way we can rise
Just hold my hand and we can make it to paradise
Just slip inside and we can make it to paradise
Because, just like a forming rainbow
Just like the stars in the sky
Life should never feel small
We are losers now
It wouldn’t hurt to try
Oh wrap me up in passioned arms
And tell me, tell me you love
For I need to know if we’re to get to paradise
Just take my hand and we can make it to paradise
Because, just like a forming rainbow
Just like the stars in the sky
Life should never feel small
And we roll and dive and laugh and cry about it
Right out into paradise
Just like a forming rainbow
Just like the stars in the sky
Life should never feel small
Oh, never feel small
And we roll and dive and laugh and cry about it
I’m Not Afraid
The cotton is high
The field is still full
The dust is drifting everywhere
A harvest moon comes up in the sky
The blues to shake me, wake me
It’s a long way down to the birth of the blues
I haven’t very far to fall since they were born
and came to haunt this singing fool since day one
There’s so many ways to sing the blues
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, not afraid
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, to let them break me
A harvest moon comes up in the sky
The cotton chokes me, makes me dry
I know that I’m unafraid and so I am
Just a ghost that walks through the room
I’ll blame it on the moonshine brew; whisky and wine
Like dust in my eyes making pats of kidney
There’s so many ways to sing the blues
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, not afraid
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, to let them break me
The cotton is high
The field is still full
The dust is drifting everywhere
No! It’s happening again, the blues are shaking, waking me
It’s a long way down to the birth of the blues
I haven’t very far to fall since they were born
And came to haunt this singing fool since day one
There’s so many ways to sing the blues
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, not afraid
I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid, to let them break me
I Just Grew Tired
So many problems
So many problems so many hanging faces
So many ways to say
Oh I’ll never see another day with you in it
So listen while you can
The first time that you ever have
I can count your saving graces on two fingers
Love them, sit on them
You told me that you’re not afraid to die
and dying’s easy, life that’s hard
Listen while you can
The first time that you ever have
So listen while you can
The first time that you ever have
Life’s not easy, but it’s all you have
I just grew tired
Grew tired
Grew tired
of it
So I can count on you
Don’t ever, never, never
never let it slip away
And dying’s easy?
I think I’ll try it out today!
Blue
It’s time to shout,
it’s time to let them know what we’re about
As winter kisses frosty cold and hard to hands
I’ll waste not an ounce of my time
Now that summer’s in time
To hold back the night
Keep me up from the fire
Back to the wheel
Don’t look down,
Don’t ever let them know you’re down
For if we are, we are
If we’re not, so what?
I’ll waste not an ounce of my time
Now that summer’s in time
To hold back the night
Keep me up from the fire
Back to the wheel
Speak in my ear
Speak in my ear
You’re living a lie
You’re living a lie
No you can’t here
No you can’t here
Out from the fire
Out from here
Hell on the way
There’s hell on the way
Just Making Memories
Seeing you, I know why I’d come so far
And I thanked the stars for leading me to you
Your fairy tale prince, I’m trying so hard
To make like an orchard in my own back yard
Oh the rain dribbles down me in my beatitude
My collar and shirt, down legs to battered shoes
Life is a breeze!
I’m just making memories, good times or bad
I’m just making memories, you’re the best that I’ve had
And I’m still living my teenage angst
On the printed page and in other ways
So if I seem cruel, it’s only the fool in me
That wants to try and see if you’ll cry
Oh the rain dribbles down me in my beatitude
My collar and shirt, down legs to battered shoes
Life is a breeze!
I’m just making memories, good times or bad
I’m just making memories, you’re the best that I’ve had
No need to ask why I’m mischief and joy
I’m still the tall boy who just wouldn’t crawl
I’m just making memories, good times or bad
I’m just making memories, you’re the best that I’ve had
Sweetest Smile
I think my heart must be made of clay
Cause everyone said it would be broken some day
And now I’ve come to that fateful day
So I sit on the floor with my head in my hands
And don’t tell me how to make it pay
I write a new song every day
I just wish I was made of wood
I might not feel pain even if I should
Even if I should
The sweetest smile that ever did
Melt the pats in the butter dish
And if you could have believed in me
I swear to God I’d have made damn sure
Our hearts were warm, and glad with wine
I’d keep the doors locked all the time
I just wish I was made of wood
You might not seem glad, even if you should
Even if you should, if you should
I think my heart must be made of clay
Cause everyone said it would be broken some day
Seems that I have come to that fateful day
So I sit on the floor with my head in my hands
With my head in my hands
Even if I should, if I should
Ravel In The Rain
Now it’s complete
Ravel is in the rain
Standing in my dream street
I’d like to meet Ravel in New Orleans
Hold out my hand to his
I was warned, now I’m old
Still searching for what I’m told
is gone, is God, is not
Don’t try to leave
I’ve tried so many times
The street is named desire
I was warned, now I’m old
Still searching for what I’m told
is gone, is God, is not
Leave Yourself Alone
Not for nothing at all
Not for nothing did I call
Reason is, you’re often appalled
Hold on now John you never seemed cold
I thought you were in love
Then I guess that you’re not
Ah but then the first thing you wrote,
Was hold on now John, hold on now John now hold on
You don’t answer when I call
You don’t answer then
You don’t answer when I call
Leave yourself alone
Leave yourself alone
Cabbages and kings in your dreams
These are your dreams
Maybe they’re not quite what they seem
Hold on now John, the blame is undone.
Wash up the air, don’t drive that car
Never learn to play the guitar
And leave yourself alone, leave yourself alone
Leave yourself alone, and leave yourself alone
You don’t answer when I call
You don’t answer then
You don’t answer when I call
Leave yourself alone
Leave yourself alone
Sweeping up the ashes of rock
Sweeping up the ashes of roll
Years begin to take up their toll
Though not for some, you’ve never seemed cold
You don’t answer when I call
You don’t answer then
You don’t answer when I call
Leave yourself alone
Leave yourself alone
Sixteens
You don’t follow me now, ribbons in hair
Searching for answers
When there’s none there
Then following me round, up my stair
Into my bedroom if I’m there
Hoping for something
Because it seems the right thing to do
You know what to do then
Yeah yeah yeah
You know what to do then
Yeah yeah yeah
You still follow me now, temptingly fair
Finding your answers
When there’s none there
Hoping for something
Because it seems the right thing to do
You know what to do then
Yeah yeah yeah
You know what to do then
Yeah yeah yeah
It’s Not You Lady Jane
I gave you houses, I gave you furs
I gave you them before you had the first
I gave you kisses, I stroked your fur
I love a woman now that you’ve had the first
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
Get out of my face
You took the houses, you took the furs
You took another after you took the first
You took my kisses, and those of fur
Now I love a woman and it’s the first
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
Get out of my face
You know you have me to keep at will
Whatever whets your fancy, whatever you will
Took what you want, took what you will
Take my schonker baby and drink your fill
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
It’s not you, I won’t give you all
Get out of my face
Hardly Star-crossed Lovers
I used to hide
I used to cry a lot
But now I don’t
It’s you, you
For when you smile the whole world’s sky
When you smile, I’m a star in that sky
It’s you, you
And we’re barely friends
We’re hardly star-crossed lovers
But who cares?
It’s you, it’s you
For when you smile the whole world’s sky
When you smile, I’m a star in that sky
It’s you, it’s you
11 comments on “Wonderful Life”
love Colin, kisses
Been listening to Everything’s coming up roses for the last three days – not able to stop
It’s such a joy to find you again!
In Italy, back then, I was among the first to buy this album, and later on “Comedy”.
Countless times these songs cradled my heart. It’s been always impossible to forget that “just like a forming rainbow, just like the stars in the sky, life should never feel small”. This album was never felt small.
Thank you for your sweet music, Mr. Vearncombe
Prayers to you and your family xxx
My thought go out to all family and friends of this wonderfully talented man. I have loved his music since I was twelve years old. I just wanted to say I love the production on the wonderful life album and it has influenced me in my music always. I was actually wondering what Synthesisers were used on that album but I guess I may never know… R.I.P.
I found out all too late that Colin had passed away recently (specifically the obituary in Uncut magazine) and wanted to pay my respects. This album in particular still stands up incredibly well for me, still got the vinyl with the bonus 12″, an Australian edition??? Anyway, sincere best wishes to Colin’s family.
Sorry, sincere condolences.
Acabo de enterarme de su muerte mientras revisaba la página y escuchaba su música me entristecio mucho aún estoy llorando :c
Wonderful life
I’ve been listening to this track for a whole day oh what a god given talent to arrange lyrics and instruments and make it speak to your soul
R.I.P COLIN
I love the song Paradise it should have been a big a hit!!
I am trying to work out the guitar chords – I know its a keyboard/synth song but does anyone know the key and chords!!
Thanks
Thank you for your beautiful music Colin, the background to my life as we are age compatible. That you are no longer here, is a loss for the world. Rest well my friend.